Monitoring brain health in patients on life support for heart or lung failure
Official title: Non-Invasive Multi-Modal Neuromonitoring in Adults Undergoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11005405 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to safely check how your brain is doing while you're on ECMO, a life-saving treatment for serious heart or lung problems, to help doctors make better decisions and protect your brain health during your care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | January 2, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $410,278 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS131967-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11005405 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults undergoing ECMO due to acute heart or lung failure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing ECMO or those with pre-existing severe neurological conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing non-invasive techniques to monitor brain physiology in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a critical procedure for those with severe heart or lung failure. The study aims to identify predictors of neurological outcomes by assessing brain injury severity and optimizing ECMO settings to minimize brain damage. Using advanced technologies like diffuse correlation spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, electroencephalogram, and evoked potentials, the research seeks to provide real-time insights into brain health during treatment. This could lead to personalized interventions that protect brain function in vulnerable patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of brain injury in patients receiving ECMO, improving their overall recovery and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of non-invasive brain monitoring is innovative, similar techniques have shown promise in other critical care settings, suggesting potential for success in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choe, Regine — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Choe, Regine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Diffuse optical brain imaging to monitor ECMO patients at bedside
A patient-friendly look at using a safe, portable brain-imaging method to monitor children and adults on ECMO for brain health right at the bedside.
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Searching for inherited genetic causes of ME/CFS
Researchers will sequence the genomes of relatives with ME/CFS to find rare inherited genetic changes that might cause the illness.
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Developing a new pump for pediatric heart support
This study is working on a new heart support pump specifically made for babies and young children, aiming to keep their blood safe while helping them breathe better.
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Investigating the effects of blood clots and oxygen levels during heart support treatment.
This study is looking at how the heart-lung machine used in severe heart failure treatment might cause blood clots and brain injuries, with the goal of finding ways to help patients have better brain health during and after their treatment.
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Understanding how VA-ECMO affects heart function in heart attacks
This study is looking at how a special heart-lung machine called VA-ECMO affects heart function in people having a severe heart attack, with the hope of finding better ways to help patients recover.
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Identifying brain injury markers in critically ill children on ECMO.
This study is looking to find new ways to check for brain injuries in kids who are getting a special treatment called ECMO for serious heart and lung problems, so doctors can better protect their brains and help them recover.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.